Best Northern Lights tours
- Sophie
- 2 days ago
- 8 min read
Seeing the Northern Lights is one of travel's great “right place, right time” moments. Green, pink and sometimes red light can ripple across an otherwise dark Arctic sky, created when charged particles interact with gases high in Earth's atmosphere.
The world's major Northern Lights hot spots sit within or close to the Arctic Circle, particularly northern Norway, Swedish and Finnish Lapland, Iceland, Greenland, Alaska and northern Canada. These high-latitude destinations offer long, dark winter nights and some of the best opportunities to see the Aurora Borealis.
There is one important thing to know before booking a Northern Lights tour, though: the Aurora Borealis is a natural phenomenon, so no tour operator can guarantee a sighting. You need a combination of solar activity, darkness and sufficiently clear skies. Cloud cover can hide the aurora completely, which means you could head out on a dedicated Northern Lights excursion and still return without seeing it.
That’s why the best Northern Lights tours have plenty going on beyond aurora hunting. Husky sledding, snowmobiling, cross country skiing, glaciers, wildlife and seriously wild landscapes make these four trips worth considering even if the sky decides not to cooperate.
TL;DR
Best for wow moments shared with other solo travelers: Flash Pack
Best for a cross-country ski adventure: Responsible Travel
Best for the perfect winter all-rounder: Nordic Visitor
Best for animal-lovers and wildlife immersion: Regent Holidays
Who this guide is for
This guide is for travelers who want the Northern Lights to be part of a bigger winter adventure rather than the only reason for going.
We've picked four very different ways to do it. There's a short Finland escape exclusively for solo travelers aged 30-49 and 45-59, a physically demanding cross country skiing trip, an accessible circuit of Iceland and a remote dog sledding expedition through East Greenland.
Where and when can you see the Northern Lights?
The Northern Lights are most commonly seen at high northern latitudes beneath an area known as the Auroral Oval. Popular viewing regions include northern Finland, Norway, Sweden and Iceland, along with Greenland, Alaska and northern Canada.
Darkness is essential, so Northern Lights travel generally takes place from fall through early spring. Aurora photographer Vincent Ledvina recommends looking around the spring and fall equinox periods, roughly August to October and February to April, when geomagnetic activity can be favorable. Staying for several nights can also improve your chances of getting a clear night between periods of cloud cover.
Location matters too. Getting away from city lights gives you darker skies, while local aurora guides can use forecasts and data to help identify promising viewing conditions.
Best Northern Lights tours compared
Best for | Tour | Destination | Group size | Activity level |
Wow moments shared with other solo travelers | Flash Pack, Finland: Northern Lights & Snowmobiles | Finland | Max 16 | Active |
A cross-country ski adventure | Responsible Travel, Cross-country skiing holiday in Finland's eastern wilderness | Finland | Max 12 | Active, previous ski experience required |
The perfect winter all-rounder | Nordic Visitor, Northern Lights Circle Tour | Iceland | Max 16 | Easy |
Animal-lovers and wildlife immersion | Regent Holidays, East Greenland Dog Sledding Expedition | Greenland | Max 20 | Active |
Best for: wow moments shared with other solo travelers
Flash Pack specializes in small group adventures for solo travelers aged 30-49 and 45-59, and Finland: Northern Lights & Snowmobiles squeezes a lot of Arctic action into five days.
This Lapland escape is part of Flash Pack's much larger worldwide adventure lineup, with this particular trip designed for travelers who want a quick winter hit without sacrificing the big experiences.
Trip style
A short, experience-packed Arctic adventure around Inari in Finnish Lapland, combining aurora hunting with huskies, snowmobiles, snowshoeing, Sámi culture and a five-course farewell dinner.
Group dynamic
Flash Pack trips have a maximum of 16 people and are split into the 30-49 and 45-59 age groups. The company says 90% of its customers travel solo, making this the most obviously social option in our comparison.
Example experiences
Travel by snowmobile sleigh to an exclusive Aurora Camp; gathered around a blazing campfire, you’ll toast marshmallows and (hopefully) spot the elusive Northern Lights
Don a pair of snowshoes for a foray across the deep snow in Inari; with dark skies and little light pollution, it’s one of the best places in the world for aurora spotting
Learn to drive your own team of huskies; experience the serene silence as they tap into their ancient instincts and bound across the snow
Wrap your Northern Lights adventure with a gourmet five-course tasting menu at one of the country’s best restaurants
Who is this best for?
Solo travelers aged 30-49 or 45-59 who want their Northern Lights trip to feel immersive, connected and active. It's particularly appealing if you're short on vacation days, since the itinerary packs huskies, snowmobiles, snowshoeing and aurora spotting into less than a week.
Best for: a cross-country ski adventure
Responsible Travel connects travelers with more responsible vacation options, and its cross-country skiing holiday in Finland's eastern wilderness heads into a farflung corner of Finland on skis.
It's one of many nature and adventure vacations featured in Responsible Travel's international edit, but this one is very much for travelers who want to earn their sauna at the end of the day.
Trip style
A seven-day, fully guided cross country skiing trip through northeast Finland, with routes passing forests, frozen lakes and wetlands and nights spent in comfortable guesthouses.
Group dynamic
Groups are capped at 12 skiers. Solo travelers are welcome, but this is not an entry level winter sightseeing tour. Participants typically ski for five to seven hours each day, covering around 20km, and previous cross country skiing experience is required on standard departures.
Example experiences
Discover the remote wilderness of northeast Finland via a cross-country skiing tour, following a mix of established routes and specially tailored trails
Spend five to seven hours each day skiing through snow-covered forests, over frozen lakes and past wildlife habitats, watching for wolverine and elk tracks along the way
Keep an eye out for the Aurora Borealis after dark. The clear winter night skies are sure to delight, even if the Northern Lights don’t make an appearance
Who is this best for?
Fit, outdoorsy travelers who already have some cross country skiing experience and would rather spend their days moving through the wilderness than sitting on a tour bus. Northern Lights sightings are a bonus here rather than the sole focus of the vacation.
Best for: the perfect winter all-rounder
Nordic Visitor specializes in travel across the Nordic region, and its Northern Lights Circle Tour turns an aurora trip into a full eight-day lap of Iceland's Ring Road.
The itinerary is one option within Nordic Visitor's wider range of trips across Iceland, Scandinavia and northern Europe, and it's the broadest sightseeing tour in this guide.
Trip style
An eight-day guided winter circuit taking in waterfalls, glaciers, black sand beaches, geothermal landscapes and the Golden Circle, with opportunities to watch for the Northern Lights after dark.
Group dynamic
Groups are limited to a maximum of 16 travelers and follow a set itinerary with a local guide. The tour has an easy activity rating of 1 out of 4, and Nordic Visitor says its guided tours are also suitable for well-traveled, active children aged 12 and over (accompanied by adults).
Example experiences
Look to the night sky for a chance to catch the Northern Lights glowing overhead
See huge chunks of glacial ice drifting across the spectacular glacier lagoon
Discover the otherworldly volcanic scenery surrounding Lake Mývatn
Who is this best for?
Travelers who want the Northern Lights slotted within a broader sightseeing trip. This is the strongest all-rounder if Iceland itself is just as important to you as the aurora, with major landscapes and attractions filling the daytime itinerary.
Best for: animal-lovers and wildlife immersion
Regent Holidays specializes in less conventional destinations and Arctic travel, with the East Greenland Dog Sledding Expedition heading deep into the icy wilderness of Ammassalik island.
It sits within Regent Holidays' broader collection of worldwide trips, but this 11-day expedition is a much more rugged proposition than a conventional Northern Lights break.
Trip style
An expedition-style journey combining East Greenland with time in Reykjavík, centered around dog sledding with local mushers, remote mountain huts, snowshoeing and life in isolated Greenlandic settlements.
Group dynamic
The tour runs with a minimum of two travelers, with a group cap of 18. Conditions are intentionally basic during the expedition, with shared sleeping accommodation in mountain huts and some outdoor facilities.
Example experiences
Explore Greenland with local mushers and their sled dogs, traveling across glaciers, mountains and frozen fjords
Spend time in a remote settlement to learn about everyday life in this isolated region, surrounded by dramatic Arctic scenery
Snowshoe into the mountains for sweeping views over the iceberg-filled Sermilik Ice Fjord, and join a local Inuit guide in search of seals
Who is this best for?
Animal lovers and adventurous travelers who are comfortable swapping hotel comforts for a genuinely remote Arctic experience. Regent Holidays recommends being in good physical condition and regularly active for around two to four hours each week before traveling.
FAQs
What are the Northern Lights?
The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, are created when charged particles interact with gases in Earth's upper atmosphere. Different gases can produce different colors, with green the most familiar but red and pink also possible.
Can a Northern Lights tour guarantee I'll see the aurora?
No. Northern Lights sightings can never be guaranteed because the aurora is a natural phenomenon. Solar and geomagnetic activity need to line up with local conditions, and even a strong aurora can be hidden by cloud cover.
Booking a dedicated excursion may improve your chances because local guides know where to look and can monitor forecasts, but it still doesn't guarantee a sighting.
Where is the best place to see the Northern Lights?
Some of the most popular Northern Lights destinations sit around or within the Arctic Circle. These include northern Finland, Norway and Sweden, plus Iceland, Greenland, Alaska and northern Canada.
Wherever you choose, dark skies, limited light pollution and clear weather are important.
When is the best time to see the Northern Lights?
Fall through early spring is the main Northern Lights travel period because northern destinations have the long, dark nights needed to see the aurora.
Periods around the fall and spring equinoxes can also be particularly interesting for aurora activity. However, there is no single date when sightings can be guaranteed.
How many nights should I spend looking for the Northern Lights?
More nights generally means more opportunities for the weather and aurora activity to line up. If seeing the lights is a major reason for your trip, spending around a week in aurora territory gives you multiple chances rather than relying on one evening.
Can you photograph the Northern Lights with a phone?
Yes, and modern smartphones can produce surprisingly good results. Use night mode if your phone has it, keep the device as steady as possible and avoid using flash. A tripod can help considerably.
For a dedicated camera, you'll generally want a wide aperture, a relatively high ISO and an exposure long enough to capture the light while keeping stars and aurora detail reasonably sharp.
Are Northern Lights tours suitable for solo travelers?
Yes. The experience can work particularly well as part of a group because much of the fun comes from waiting, watching and sharing the moment if the aurora finally appears. Some trips are exclusively for solo travelers, while others welcome solo guests alongside couples, friends and families.
Are Northern Lights tours physically demanding?
Not necessarily. Activity levels vary enormously. Nordic Visitor's Iceland trip has an easy activity rating, while Responsible Travel's Finland itinerary involves five to seven hours of cross country skiing each day. Regent Holidays' Greenland expedition also requires good physical condition.
Check what happens during the day as carefully as you check the aurora itinerary, especially if you're choosing between a sightseeing vacation and an active winter expedition.
How we chose the best Northern Lights tours
We wanted four trips where the vacation still has a point even if the Northern Lights don't appear.
That meant comparing more than aurora excursions. We looked at group size, age requirements, physical demands, destination, trip length and what travelers actually spend their days doing.
The final selection covers four distinct ways to experience the Arctic: a social solo adventure in Finnish Lapland, a cross country ski journey through Finland's eastern wilderness, a sightseeing circuit around Iceland and an expedition-style dog sledding trip in Greenland.
For each of these trips, an aurora appearance is a spectacular extra on top of a winter vacation you'd be excited to take anyway.
Best Northern Lights tours by GroupTravelReviews.com
Comments